marknorton Posted January 16, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 16, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) ...look at this: Leica Camera to launch ‘Safari’ M.8.2 news - Amateur Photographer - news, camera reviews, lens reviews, camera equipment guides, photography courses, competitions, photography forums A "safari" M8. Are Leica mad? Don't they remember what happened when Hermes were in the picture? I despair. Instead of offering us IQ and reliability improvements, Leica are intent on offering us this garbage. Just what you need when going on safari, a rangefinder and 28mm lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 16, 2009 Posted January 16, 2009 Hi marknorton, Take a look here If you want to be depressed.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted January 16, 2009 I'm wondering whether this camera will come with a modified S-mode (Safari Mode, for the uninitiated). Press the info button and the camera will display a range of wild animals to help you identify them, just in case you never could figure out: Is that an elephant or a giraffe? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyTot Posted January 16, 2009 Share #3 Posted January 16, 2009 ...look at this: Leica Camera to launch ‘Safari’ M.8.2 news - Amateur Photographer - news, camera reviews, lens reviews, camera equipment guides, photography courses, competitions, photography forums A "safari" M8. Are Leica mad? Don't they remember what happened when Hermes were in the picture? I despair. Instead of offering us IQ and reliability improvements, Leica are intent on offering us this garbage. Just what you need when going on safari, a rangefinder and 28mm lens. "Whatever it is I'm against it" Mark Norton or was it Groucho Marx ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 16, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 16, 2009 It's easy money for Leica, no R&D involved _and_ the margins are higher. If people are silly enough to buy it, why not? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicauserGB Posted January 16, 2009 Share #5 Posted January 16, 2009 Collectors surely will Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted January 16, 2009 Share #6 Posted January 16, 2009 Somebody should tell the Leica Company that Saddam Hussein is no more of this world. This M8 safary would be fine along with the golden faucets in the bathroom, the golden throne and all the kitch of the Baghdad royal palace. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted January 16, 2009 Share #7 Posted January 16, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) it will only hold its value if never used or even opened so no need to put a sensor or any electronics in it. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabelle Lenatio Posted January 16, 2009 Share #8 Posted January 16, 2009 One thing Leica does know all about (and this is not digital engineering) is their main/principle target group. They can introduce little safari M8 buttons now to replace the red and stealthy black ones, matching bags and camera finishes, probably introduce a line of safari clothing with printed leica dots strategically placed ... I know at least 6 forum members whom would wet their pants thinking about all the opportunities of the M8.2 safari package Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 16, 2009 Share #9 Posted January 16, 2009 What's depressing about it? It's no more depressing than an MP3, or any of the LHSA specials that people paid a premium for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted January 16, 2009 I know at least 6 forum members whom would wet their pants thinking about all the opportunities of the M8.2 safari package Go on, Isabelle, name and shame! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted January 16, 2009 What's depressing about it? It's no more depressing than an MP3, or any of the LHSA specials that people paid a premium for. Oh easy, I think Leica should be focussing on imaging performance instead of (questionable) aesthetics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 16, 2009 Share #12 Posted January 16, 2009 I'm wondering whether this camera will come with a modified S-mode (Safari Mode, for the uninitiated). Press the info button and the camera will display a range of wild animals to help you identify them, just in case you never could figure out: Is that an elephant or a giraffe? That's pretty funny. It is, to say the least, not my favorite direction for Leica to take. Maybe this stuff makes them money but it sure doesn't help professional or serious amateur photographers. The best I can hope is that at least some of the money earned from these special edition cameras gets put into R&D. Cheers, Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted January 16, 2009 Share #13 Posted January 16, 2009 I'm signing up for both the camera & the trip! This is going to be one wild & dangerous safari, with only a 28mm lens. If we zone-focus on 2.5 meters, we can capture all the thundering rogue elephant hooves & leaping tiger fangs. Kirk (PS, agree with Sean!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 16, 2009 Share #14 Posted January 16, 2009 Yes I expect that they have turned over all their R&D department to choosing which colour to print these You can see 150 skilled engineers in Solms spending weeks with Pantone swatches This is not affecting the S2, R10 or M9 work at all. Let's get some grip on reality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakley Posted January 16, 2009 Share #15 Posted January 16, 2009 Oh easy, I think Leica should be focussing on imaging performance instead of (questionable) aesthetics. I doubt that's an either/or proposition. I don't think the optical engineering team gets pulled off the design workstations to glue green leather on the Safari bodies. If Leica can put dollars on the bottom line by putting a few cameras in nice boxes and covering them with special leather, I say "go for it - more dollars to fund the engineering budget". Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabelle Lenatio Posted January 16, 2009 Share #16 Posted January 16, 2009 The Leica corp. are much more clever than us .... They know their clientele , they know they can produce anything of which ever quality and sell it, just read all the apologists here, the M8 is not at all a high quality camera, but followers will defend up unto the point of loosing their left testicle, and perhaps even after that ... going on to the right one ... Leica has a select group of people whom will buy anything with a red, black, safari colored or pink dot on it, as long as it has a slight resemblance to Leica/exclusive. Any photographer in his/her right mind would spend the money on a totally different, and better configuration, but for most Leica users this is not important, Leica means "money" ... "position" ... social standing etc. Just answer me on the fact that people actually spend 60% more on a titanium colored D-lux4 being the same camera they can get for well, obviously cheaper in a Panasonic version, same specs, same camera... Clever marketeers these Leica blokes ... and as long they have their short-sighted followers they will get along fine You know photography is all about results ... and despite all the arguments posted here the results of a leica M8 are not better than cheaper alternatives, yes it is a range finder, but if one is in there for the result, the M8 is a bad choice for the investment required .... But to be honest ... it's a sexy little camera! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
apitong Posted January 16, 2009 Share #17 Posted January 16, 2009 No reason to be depressed. Leica has been doing this since the Leica Luxus of 1929! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 16, 2009 Share #18 Posted January 16, 2009 Don't get it folks. Why would not we purchase luxury things if we like them? Good work for artisans and artists, good money for Leica as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 16, 2009 Share #19 Posted January 16, 2009 Yes I expect that they have turned over all their R&D department to choosing which colour to print these You can see 150 skilled engineers in Solms spending weeks with Pantone swatches This is not affecting the S2, R10 or M9 work at all. Let's get some grip on reality. Let's hope that the converse is true though. The special edition cameras earn money and some of that money goes into R & D. Cheers, Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 16, 2009 Share #20 Posted January 16, 2009 The Leica corp. are much more clever than us .... They know their clientele , they know they can produce anything of which ever quality and sell it, just read all the apologists here, the M8 is not at all a high quality camera, but followers will defend up unto the point of loosing their left testicle, and perhaps even after that ... going on to the right one ... Leica has a select group of people whom will buy anything with a red, black, safari colored or pink dot on it, as long as it has a slight resemblance to Leica/exclusive. Any photographer in his/her right mind would spend the money on a totally different, and better configuration, but for most Leica users this is not important, Leica means "money" ... "position" ... social standing etc. Just answer me on the fact that people actually spend 60% more on a titanium colored D-lux4 being the same camera they can get for well, obviously cheaper in a Panasonic version, same specs, same camera... Clever marketeers these Leica blokes ... and as long they have their short-sighted followers they will get along fine You know photography is all about results ... and despite all the arguments posted here the results of a leica M8 are not better than cheaper alternatives, yes it is a range finder, but if one is in there for the result, the M8 is a bad choice for the investment required .... But to be honest ... it's a sexy little camera! Is there any chance you are over-generalizing by just a teeny bit? <G> Can you imagine, at least, some photographers for whom the M8 really works well and is suitable? Cheers, Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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